Automobile torpedo



H. W. SHONNARD.

AUTOMOBILE TORPEDO.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1s. |92o.`

Patented Nov. 23, 1920.

N N t O INVENTOR l W222i@ y which are so constructed and arranged asnarran stares earner erstes.

HARLD W. SHONNARD, OF UPER IVIONTCLAIR, NEVI JERSEY, ASIS-IGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CLARENCE M. S-IONNABD, OF RIDGEWOO'D, NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMOBILE TGRPED 0.

Specification of Letters IE'atent.`

' Patented Nov. 23, 1920.-

Application filed March 18, 1920.V VSerial No. 366,872.

To all fathom izvmag/ concern: l

Be it known that I, HAROLD W. Siron-v Nann, residing at Upper Montclair,in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, a citizen of the UnitedStates, have invented or discovered certain new and useful lmprovementsin AutomobileV rforpedoes, of which improvements the following isaspeciiication. Y i

lt is the object of the invention to provide improved means for drivingthe propellers of a torpedo, the operating` membersV of to permit ofrapid and easy assemblage. It is particularly adapted for advantageoususe in connection with the warhead of a torpedo having bow propellers,such, for example, as is shown and described in an application forLetters Patent filed by me on January' 20th, 1920, Serial No. 352,649.

In the accompanying drawing there is shown a horizontal section' of theforward portion of a torpedo embodying the invention in its preferredform.

-The warhead 1, shown as filled with explosive 12, is provided with anaxial tube 2, opening a't its rear end through the rear bulkhead 3 ofthe warhead, and opening at its forward end into a .cavity or recess 4formed by the inset wall 5 in the bow of the warhead. The rear bulkhead3 of the warhead is secured by bolts 6 to the forward portion 7 of thenext section of the torpedo, which in the form shown will be themotive-fuel flask 8. The section 8 is provided with the axial tube 9,through which passes the driving-shaft 10 slidably journaled at itsforward end in the bushing 11 in the tube 9, and suitably connected tothe propulsion motor, not shown. The driving-shaft 10 projects forwardlybeyond the bushing 11 and is coupled to the rear end of thepropeller-shaft 12, which projects forwardly through the axial tube 2 ofthe warhead and carries at its forward end the propeller 18, which iskeyed to the shaft 12 and is suitably secured in place by the nut 14.The driving-shaft 10 is provided with keys 15 adapted to engage slots inthe rear end of the propeller-shaft 12, in such manner that the shaftsmay be coupled together by longitudinal relative movement.

The forward portion of the propellershaft 12 is journaled in a bearing16, provided with integral stud-shafts 17, the outer ends of which areseated in a casing 19 arranged in the bow cavity 4 of the warhead andsecured to the wall thereof by bolts 20, passing through the exteriorannular vflange 21 of said casing, and the interior annularseat 22therefor formed in said wall 3, which thus constitutes a frame for thecasing. Keyed to the propeller-shaft 12 within the casing 19 and at therear of the bearing 16 is a bevel-pinion 23 which meshes with oppositebevel-pinions 24 mounted on,

the stud-shafts 17, which inturn mesh with the bevel-pinion 25 fastenedto the inner end of a hollow auxiliary propeller-shaft 26, mounted onthe main propeller-shaft 12 rearwardly ofthe propeller 13, saidauxiliary shaft 26 having securedthereto the propeller 27, which'will,through the described connections, be rotatedinthe direction opposite tothat of the rotationfof the propeller 13. H y l VVThe torpedo mayYbeequipped with any suitable detonating device. l have shown thepropeller-shaft 12 as hollow to contain the detonator 28, provided withthe pistol 29, secured within the shaft 12 by the threaded forward end30 of the pistol. The small screw-wheel 31 is a device for cooking thepistol after having made a predetermined number of revolutions, but itforms no part of the present invention. ln order to guard againstaccidentalexplosion through fracture of the propeller-shaft 12, its wallthickness is reduced to the rear of the detonator, as shown at 32, sothat a fracture under undue stress may take place at that point.` Thebow propellers would then be out of commission, but the detonator wouldstill be effective.

The assembling of the members above described may be accomplished easilyand expeditiously., and without danger of injury to the shafts andgearing. Thus the warhead, which is very heavy, may be first secured tothe section 8. T he propeller-driving unit consisting of the shafts 12and 26, with the casing 19 and its contained gear-cluster, may then beput in place. And iinally the detonating charge and pistol may beinserted and secured in the hollow shaft 12.

l claim as my invention:

1. In a torpedo lhaving bow propellers, an outwardly open recess formedin its bow, intermeshing/ gearing removably mounted in said recess andconnected to said propellers,

and a driving-shaft detachably connected to said gearing.

2. In a torpedo having end propellers, an outwardly open recess formedin its end wall, an outwardly removable casing secured in said recessand closing it against ingress of water, intermeshing gearing'in saidcasing connected to said propellers, and a driving-shaft detachablyConnected to said gearing.

3.V In a torpedo provided with propellers,

an adjacent end section having an axial tube extending longitudinallytherethrough and opening at its outer end into an enlarged recess, anoutwardly removable casing se- 'cured in said recess and closing itagainst ingress of water, intermeshing gearing in said casing connectedto said propellers, and a driving-shaft in said tube connected to saidgearing. Y ,I 4. In a torpedo, a bow section adapted to contain anexplosive charge and having a propeller atits bow, an axiall tubeextending longitudinally through said bow section, a hollow drivingshaftfor` said propeller mounted `in said tube, and a detonator in saidhollow driving-shaft.

5. In a torpedo, a bow section adapted to contain an explosive chargeand having a propeller at'its bow, an axial tubev extendinglongitudinally through said bow section, a hollow driving-shaft for saidpropeller mounted in said tube, and a detonator secured in the forwardportion of said driving-shaft, the said driving-shaft having a portionof reduced strength at the rear of said detonator.

6. In a torpedo, the combination with a` bow section adapted to containan explosive rear bulkhead, a frame at the forward end of saidbow-section, an' axial tube connecting said frame and said bulkhead, apair of bow propellers, a casing secured to said frame, intermeshinggearing in said casing connected to said propellers, said tube connectedto said gearing.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HAROLD w. sHoNNARD'. Witnesses:

LILLIAN A. FAGAN, CHARLES W. HALWEY.

and a driving-shaft in

